Protection system, layer 2 function block, node and ring network enabling wideband transmission of working traffic and protection of protection channel traffic

Abstract

A ring network having a plurality of nodes connected by a working channel and a protection channel. When no failure exists, the working channel and the protection channel are link-aggregated into one virtual channel, and the transmission of the working traffic is carried out using both channels. When failure occurred to a line of the network, the link aggregation is suspended and a protection function in conjunction with the link aggregation is activated, in which a path avoiding the failure point is established by means of layer 1 protection process and thereafter data transmission is carried out by use of the path established by the layer 1 protection function. Therefore, data transmission in the no failure stated can be conduced using a bandwidth of twice as large as that of convention ring networks.

1. A layer 2 function block for being installed in each node of a ring network having a plurality of nodes connected by a working channel and a protection channel, wherein:
 the layer 2 function block carries out the transmission of working traffic using both the working channel and the protection channel when no failure exists in the network, and 
 the layer 2 function block carries out, the transmission of the working traffic using a path avoiding a point of failure that is established by means of layer 1 protection process when the failure occurred in the network, and 
 said layer 2 function block includes: 
 failure information means for receiving failure information indicating the state of failure occurring in the network and failure recovery information indicating the recovery of the network from the failure from the layer 1 and issuing port selection instructions based on the failure information and the failure recovery information; and 
 layer 2 connection control means for controlling the connections between the layer 1 and upper layers by controlling its ports based on the port selection instruction supplied from the failure information means. 
 
     
     
       2. A layer 2 function block as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layer 1 protection process includes ring switch process and span switch process. 
     
     
       3. A layer 2 function block for being installed in each node of a ring network having a plurality of nodes connected by a working channel and a protection channel, wherein:
 the layer 2 function block carries out the transmission of working traffic using a virtual channel generated by link-aggregating the working channel and the protection channel when no failure exists in the network, and 
 the layer 2 function block carries out the transmission of the working traffic using a path avoiding a point of failure that is established by means of layer 1 protection process when the failure occurred in the network, and 
 said layer 2 function block includes: 
 failure information means for receiving failure information indicating the state of failure occurring in the network and failure recovery information indicating the recovery of the network from the failure from the layer 1 and issuing port selection instructions based on the failure information and the failure recovery information; and 
 layer 2 connection control means for controlling the connections between the layer 1 and upper layers by controlling its ports based on the port selection instruction supplied from the failure information means. 
 
     
     
       4. A layer 2 function block as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the layer 1 protection process includes ring switch process and span switch process. 
     
     
       5. A layer 2 function block as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the layer 2 function block carries out the link aggregation of the working channel and the protection channel according to a link aggregation method defined by IEEE 802.3ad. 
     
     
       6. A node of a ring network having a plurality of nodes connected by a working channel and a protection channel, comprising
 a layer 1 function block for carrying out layer 1 protection process when failure occurred in the network and thereby establishing a path avoiding a point of the failure; and 
 a layer 2 function block for carrying out the transmission of working traffic using both the working channel and the protection channel when no failure exists in the network, while carrying out the transmission of the working traffic using the path established by the layer 1 function block when the failure occurred in the network, 
 said layer 2 function block includes: 
 failure information means for receiving failure information indicating the state of failure occurring in the network and failure recovery information indicating the recovery of the network from the failure from the layer 1 function block and issuing port selection instructions based on the failure information and the failure recovery information; and 
 layer 2 connection control means for controlling the connections between the layer 1 function block and upper layers by controlling its ports based on the port selection instruction supplied from the failure information means. 
 
     
     
       7. A node as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the layer 1 protection process executed by the layer 1 function block includes ring switch process and span switch process. 
     
     
       8. A node of a ring network having a plurality of nodes connected by a working channel and a protection channel, comprising:
 a layer 1 function block for carrying out layer 1 protection process when failure occurred in the network and thereby establishing a path avoiding a point of the failure; and 
 a layer 2 function block for carrying out the transmission of working traffic using a virtual channel generated by link-aggregating the working channel and the protection channel when no failure exists in the network, while carrying out the transmission of the working traffic using the path established by the layer 1 function block when the failure occurred in the network, 
 said layer 2 function block includes: 
 failure information means for receiving failure information indicating the state of failure occurring in the network and failure recovery information indicating the recovery of the network from the failure from the layer 1 function block and issuing port selection instructions based on the failure information and the failure recovery information and 
 layer 2 connection control means for controlling the connections between the layer 1 function block and upper layers by controlling its ports based on the port selection instruction supplied from the failure information means. 
 
     
     
       9. A node as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the layer 1 protection process executed by the layer 1 function block includes ring switch process and span switch process. 
     
     
       10. A node as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the layer 2 function block carries out the link aggregation of the working channel and the protection channel according to a link aggregation method defined by IEEE 802.3ad. 
     
     
       11. A ring network comprising a plurality of nodes connected by a working channel and a protection channel, wherein the nodes includes:
 a layer 1 function block for carrying out layer 1 protection process when failure occurred in the network and thereby establishing a path avoiding a point of the failure; and 
 a layer 2 function block for carrying out the transmission of working traffic using, both the working channel and the protection channel when no failure exists in the network, while carrying out the transmission of the working traffic using the pat established byte layer 1 function block when the failure occurred in the network, 
 said layer 2 function block includes: 
 information means for receiving failure information indicating the state of failure occurring in the network and failure recovery information indicating the recovery of the network from the failure from the layer 1 function block and issuing port selection instructions based on the failure information and the failure recovery information; and 
 layer 2 connection control means for controlling the connections between the layer 1 function block and upper layers by controlling its ports based on the port selection instruction supplied from the failure information means. 
 
     
     
       12. The ring network as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the layer 1 protection process executed by the layer 1 function block includes ring switch process and span switch process. 
     
     
       13. A ring network comprising a plurality of nodes connected by a working channel and a protection channel, wherein the nodes includes:
 a layer 1 function block for carrying out layer 1 protection process when failure occurred in the network and thereby establishing a path avoiding a point of the failure; and 
 a layer 2 function block for carrying out the transmission of working traffic using a virtual channel generated by link-aggregating the working channel and the protection channel when no failure exists in the network, while carrying out the transmission of the working traffic using the path established by the layer 1 function block when the failure occurred in the network, 
 said layer 2 function block includes: 
 failure information means for receiving failure information indicating the state of failure occurring in the network and failure recovery information indicating the recovery of the network from the failure from the layer 1 function block and issuing port selection instructions based on the failure information and the failure recovery information; and 
 layer 2 connection control means for controlling the connections between the layer 1 function block and upper layers by controlling its ports based on the port selection instruction supplied from the failure information means. 
 
     
     
       14. The ring network as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the layer 1 protection process executed by the layer 1 function block includes ring switch process and span switch process. 
     
     
       15. The ring network as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the layer 2 function block carries out the link aggregation of the working channel and the protection channel according to a link aggregation method defined by IEEE 802.3ad. 
     
     
       16. A ring network node comprising:
 a layer 1 function block, including a failure detection section that detects a failure in a network and a switch, when a failure is detected, said layer 1 function block causes said switch to be actuated to carry out layer 1 protection process, thereby establishing a path to avoid a point of failure; and 
 a layer 2 function block including a link aggregate control section for generating a virtual channel using link aggregation of a working channel and a protection channel, when no failure is detected by said failure detection section, transmission of working traffic uses the virtual channel created by the link aggregated control section, when a failure is detected by said failure detection section, said link aggregate control section suspends said link aggregation and causes a second switch to be actuated to carry out transmission of the working traffic using paths established by layer 1 protection process.